Period drama compared to Bridgerton but fans have a big complaint
The 2023 period drama, The Buccaneers, has been met with a mixed reception since it premiered earning a modest 76% on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a slew of negative critiques.
Adapting an incomplete Edith Wharton novel, The Buccaneers transports its audience back to the ostentatious Gilded Age. It's the 1870s in England where the television series chronicles the exploits of five wealthy and enterprising American women navigating the upper echelons of London society.
The quintet arrives in London at the pinnacle of the debutante season, with their eyes set on finding well-suited husbands amidst attending opulent weddings. The series is a whirlwind of culture shocks, burgeoning romance, challenges to tradition, and camaraderie, as the ladies rub elbows with the crème de la crème.
A review on Rotten Tomatoes write: "Poorly written and acted period drama with an interesting premise. The premise of the Buccaneers is that boisterous Americans visit stodgy England to find marriages.
"The idea is that the class of cultures will lead to sparks flying and plenty of engaging drama. "Unfortunately, the writing is stiff and awkward, and the performances are expressionless and limited in breadth", reports the Express.
The series showcases a new brigade of stars, featuring Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, and Imogen Waterhouse at the core of its narrative. Yet, despite fresh faces, opinions on their performances are deeply divided among the audience.
One critic doesn't hold back: "I couldn't watch past the first episode. There's not one likeable character, and the soundtrack grates worse than nails on a chalkboard. It's just a seriously irritating show. Can we have a back-to-basics period drama sometime, please? All this updating and reimagining just isn't working."
A central bone of contention for many viewers is the apparent mimicking of the widely acclaimed Netflix sensation, Bridgerton. One comment encapsulates this sentiment: "Trying too hard to be another Bridgerton - very lame," reads the review.
"I love a costume drama, but I had to abandon it. Won't watch more."
Another viewer added: "The pacing is odd, the plot is odd, and the lack of any authenticity is odd.
"For context, I'm a big fan of Bridgerton and My Lady Jane - but this was difficult to watch."
Despite the attempt to breathe new life into an old tale over two seasons, it appears that the latest adaptation has missed the mark with some spectators. However, it's not all bleak as there are viewers who see the show in a different light, with one even suggesting it's imbued with "magic".
They wrote: "If you're used to classic period dramas, the outspoken, rowdy American girls will feel cringey for an episode or two. But the magic in this is the contrast between the new-money Americans and the strangled politeness of the British high society. The collision of these two worlds becomes very high stakes when the main characters contemplate the reality of an eternity, trapped without the freedom they've taken for granted."
For those curious to see how 'The Buccaneers' stacks up against shows like 'Bridgerton', all episodes are currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
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